N. Kagawa et al., Enhanced expression of stress protein 70 in the brains of goldfish, Carassius auratus, reared with bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus, FISH PHYS B, 21(2), 1999, pp. 103-110
Induction of stress protein (HSP70) was studied in goldfish (Carassius aura
tus) reared with bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus), a predator of small fish.
HSP70 was identified by Western blotting and quantified by optical density
after SDS-PAGE. The expression of HSP70 was significantly enhanced in the
brains of goldfish reared with bluegills for 6 and 12 h in a single tank. T
he hepatopancreas and the kidney were not affected by the treatment. When g
oldfish were separated from bluegills with a partition net (1 x 1 cm mesh s
ize), this protein also increased in the brains after 6 h but then returned
to the control level after 12 h. When the goldfish and bluegills were kept
in separate tanks and were not able to see each other but were connected b
y circulating water, HSP70 levels in the goldfish were unaffected. Immunohi
stochemical observations indicated that an anti-HSP70 antibody was found to
react predominantly with the optic and vagal lobes of the brains. These re
sults suggest that visual perception plays a primary role in enhancement of
HSP70 expression in the goldfish reared with bluegills.